Carton adapted for opening and reclosing



0, 1957 c. F. KLEIN CARTON ADAPTED FOR OPENING AND RECLOSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. flare/1m J1 fi'izlw BY fl TTOPNE Y Aug. 20, 1957 c. F. KLEIN CARTON ADAPTEID FOR OPENING AND RECLOSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 19.54

I ATTORNEY United States Patent Cfiice 2,803,395 Patented Aug. 20, 1957 CARTON ADAPTED FOR OPENING AND RECLOSING Clarence F. Klein, Hartsdale, N. Y., assignor to The Lord Baltimore Press, Incorporated, Baltimore, Md a corporation of Maryland Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,670

9 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) The present invention relates to improvements in cartons made from paper board or like material and has for its principal features the provision of front opening flaps which may be reopened and reclosed by automatic machinery after the original sealing without defacing the carton and to the method of performing this operation.

Such a carton is useful for packaging purposes in many instances but it is especially important in the distribution of cigarette packs in the well known cigarette cartons. The following disclosure will discuss the application of the carton and method of reopening principally with relation to cigarette cartons but the invention may be applied to other packaging purposes and the disclosure is not limited to cigarette cartons.

The handling of cigarette packages in cartons has been complicated by the requirements of the various States for the alfixation of tax stamps to the individual cigarette packs. The cartons are originally sealed by the manufacturers for shipment to many states. In those states that require stamps on the individual packages, the cartons must be reopened and the individual cigarette packs exposed for application of the stamps. In order to have access to all ten cigarette packs in the conventional top opening carton either the top flap must be opened and five packs removed or the front panel of the carton must be torn open and then reclosed. This tearing of the carton front causes the rescaled carton to have a ragged and unattractive appearance which is detrimental to sales.

Due to the highly competitive nature of cigarette selling, manufacturers desire to package their cigarettes in attractive cartons and it is therefore desirable to provide a carton which will retain its original neat appearance after the tax stamps are applied. It is also desirable to provide a carton which allows the stamping action to be done by automatic machinery so that the tax stamps may be quickly and inexpensively applied. The carton of the present invention has a minimum-sized blank so that carton stock costs may be reduced or a thicker, more attractive cardboard stock may be used in place of a larger area blank of the same cost. Since the carton is not torn or defaced by the stamping operation, it is also designed for use as a display device.

An object of the invention is to provide a carton with a front opening panel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a carton with a front opening panel which may be opened and reclosed by automatic machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton with a minimum blank size for a given carton shape.

Another object is to provide a carton with an integral display panel.

Another object is to provide a method of sealing a carton which may be easily reopened.

Another object is to provide a method of opening and reclosing the side of a carton.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank in a partially folded state;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton with the front panel reopened;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sealed carton;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the sealed carton;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the carton folded for display purposes;

Fig. 7 is an end view showing the carton folded for display purposes;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing schematically the method of reopening and reclosing the carton; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the carton blank.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 shows the blank 1 from which the carton is formed. This blank comprises a sheet of paperboard or other suitable material which is cut, scored, perforated and folded to form the completed carton of Fig. 4. The blank has a front panel 3, a bottom panel 4, a back panel 5, a top panel 6, and a front flap 7. End flaps 8, 9, 10, and 11 cooperate to form an end panel 12, as will be explained more fully below. Blank 1 is scored along parallel lines 14, 15, 16, and 17 for folding. End flaps 10 and 11 are scored at 18 and 19 and end flaps 8 have perforated lines 20. Panel 4 may have a line across it comprising a perforated portion 22 and two other end scored portions 23 if it is desired to provide a display panel. The perforated portion 22 may be shaped to any suitable pattern for a display design. End flap 9 will be perforated along line 21 if a display panel is used. If no display panel is provided, line 21' will be a scored line as seen in Fig. 9. Flap 7 has a printed over area 24 which covers its surface completely except for several unprinted spots 25 to facilitate gluing flap 7 to front panel 3, as will be explained below.

Fig. 2 shows the blank of Fig. 1 partially folded to form the carton. End flaps 8 and 10 are bent inwardly inside flaps 9 and 11.

Fig. 3 shows the end panel 12 completely formed with flaps 9 and 11 abutting one another after they have been folded against and attached to flaps 8 and 10. The carton is now closed on five sides, leaving the front open. Fig. 3 shows the carton filled with cigarette packages which each have one end exposed.

In Fig. 4 the carton is shown in its completely sealed condition. Flap 7 is folded to a position at right angles to top panel 6 and front panel 3 is folded against flap 7 and fastened thereto. The fastening between flap 7 and panel 3 is made so that flap 7 may be readily unfastened when the front of the carton is reopened. The flap 7 and panel 3 may be fastened by a series of glue spots. Fig. 1 shows the blank prepared for one method of making a glue spot fastening. In this method the flap 7 is completely printed over with an ink coating 24 except for several clear spots 25. When glue is spread over the flap 7, only the clear spots 25 of flap 7 will adhere to panel 3 and the printed portion 24 will not adhere. The printed I area can be applied either to flap 7 as shown or may be applied to the back portion of front panel 3 which contacts flap 7 when the carton is folded. Alternately the glue maybe applied only .to the desired spots onflap 7. Other methods of fastening maybe used to secure flap 7 to panel 3. I i i V In order to reopen the carton a tool such as a knife blade 29 is inserted behind the front panel 3 at the left hand side in slot 2 6. The knife 29 is then slipped along behind panel 3 to cut the glue fastening spots and the perforated lines. 29. Flap -7 and panel 3 are now folded outwardly to expose the cigarette packages as seen in Fig. 3. Score lines 14 and 17 have several slits 27 cut along their length to allow flap 7 and panel 3 to fold more easily and to be readily adaptable for machine handling. Stamps 28 are readily applied to the exposed packs. After the stamping or inspection is completed, the carton may be reclosed by folding the flap 7 down in its original folded position against the .cigarette pack ends and. by folding and regluing the front panel 3 against flap 7.

' The carton is adapted to the aflixation of tax stamps by automatic machinery. Fig. 8 shows schematically the method by which the cartons may be opened, stamped and reclosed by a continuous process on automatic machinery. Three cartons 3t), 31, and 32 areshown being moved from left to" right by cleats 33 on a conveyor belt 34 Carton 39 ha just arrived at the opening position. A stationary knife blade 35 with a diagonal cutting edge 36 is being drawn between flap 7 and panel 3 by the motion of carton 39. Diagonal edge 36 of knife 35 moves first into slot 26 in carton 3!). Further motion of carton 30 causes the edge 36 tocut the perforated line 29 adjacent slot 26. As the carton then moves past knife 35, the glue spot fastening flap 7 and panel 3 are severed.

As the cartons are advanced by belt 34, flap 7 and panel 3 are opened by curved guides 37 and 38. Curved guide 37 is a fiat strip twisted so that it curves from a horizontal position to a vertical position. As guide 37 is advanced beneath panel 3 by the movement of the carton, panel 3 will be opened outwardlyby the outwardly turning surface of guide 37. Guide 38 similarly has a twisting surface in the opposite sense which opens flap 7.

Flap 7 and panel 3. of carton 31 have been opened by curved guides 37 and 3S,- exposing the ends of the cigarette packs. A stamping device such as wheel 39 now applies the tax stamps 28 to the exposed packages. Wheel 39 has a series of appropriately spaced stamps 44 around its circumference which imprint stamps 28 on the ends of the cigarette packages. Wheel 39 is driven by a suitable drive synchronized with the belt 34 to properly space the stamps. Any other suitable stamp applying means may be employed to stamp the exposed packages.

To reseal the packages, an adhesive is applied to flap 7 by a roller 4%. Curved guides'41 and 42 fold flap 7 and panel 3 to their closed position. Guide 42 is a flat strip twisted to curve from a vertical to a horizontal position. This guide 4 2 folds flap 7 to a closed position against the cigarette packages. Guide 41 is similarly shaped but in the opposite sense to fold panel 3 inwardly. Guide 42 is located in advance of guide 41 to fold flap 7 beneath panel 3.

Car-ton 32 is passing guides 41 and 42 and the right hand end, whichhas emerged from the guides, has been completely reclosed. This method of opening and reclosing may be performed by machinery using suitable devices for opening, stamping and reclosing other than those shown in Fig. 8 and discussed above.

The reclosed car-ton presents the same appearance as it did when originally packed except for the cut perforated lines 20 which'will not be noticeable except by close inspection. The carton will thus present a factory packed andfresh appearance to the purchaser.

Fig. 6 shows the carton set up for display purposes.

. Inthis position the carton is turned over from its normal position as shown in Fig. 3 so that the top panel is at the bottom. Front panel 3 is first separated from the flap 7. Perforated lines 20, 21 and 22 are cut or torn. As is shown in Fig. 7, the panel 4 is folded together along score lines 23 so that the design bounded by perforated line 22 is raised up in line with back panel 5 and the front panel 3 is tucked in behind the cigarette packs and flat against panel 5. Fig. 7 shows the display panel 4 .partly folded into position in the dotted lines and completely erected in the solid lines.

The small blank size for the carton is achieved by reducing the overlap in the panel design of the carton. The end panels have a minimum of overlap, since the outer layer composed of the flaps 9'and 11 has no overlap at all and the supporting flaps behind these flaps 8 and 9 are designed to be of minimum area. The display panel has been designed so that an artistic display can be made from the carton with no addition to the blank size from the size already required to package .the pig arette packs or other items.

A cigarette. carton is provided which holds ten packs of cigarettes in the normal manner and which maybe opened readily by an automatic machine or otherwise to expose all the cigarette packs simultaneously for-inspection or for the application of tax stamps. In addition a carton is provided which is made from a blank Of minimum size for the type of carton desired. The carton will present an attractive appearance after having been opened for stamp. application and has a simple and effective display panel which is folded from the carton itself withoutthe addition of any extra material not already needed for the carton itself. 'A method of fasten ing a cigarette carton is provided which'allows the carton to be opened readily and without defacing the carton by a simple machine operation.

As various changes may be made in the form, materials, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein isto be interpreted as second flaps on said front panel and said front panel,v

scored lines between said second flaps on said back panel and said back panel, and scored lines between said first flaps and said top and bottom panels, a plurality of slits along the scored lines between said top panel and said front flap and between said front panel and said bottom panel, and a notch along a portion of one of said perforated lines between said second flaps on said front panel and said front panel.

2. A blank for a carton comprising a piece of cardboard scored to forrn'a front panel, a bottom panel, a back panel, a top panel and a front flap, said. top and said bottom panelshaving first flaps at each 'end for forming end panels, said front and said back panels having second flaps at each end for folding inwardly behind said first flaps, perforated lines between said second'fiaps on said front panel and said front panel and between' said firs't flaps on said bottom panel and said bottom panel, scored lines between, said second flaps on said back panel and said back panel and between said first flaps on said top panel "and said top panel,ajline on said bottom panel comprising scored portions-at-the ends of said line adjacent said first flaps on said bottom panel and a perforated portion connecting said scored portions.

3. The blank as claimed in" claim' 2 in which said scored lines between said top panel and said front 'fiap and between said front panel and said bottom panel have a plurality of slits therein, and in which said front panel is notched along a portion of one of said perforated lines between said second flaps on said front panel and said front panel.

4. A carton comprising a cardboard blank scored and folded with a back panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a top panel, a front flap and two end panels, said end panels comprising an outer layer formed of a flap on one end of said bottom panel and a flap on the corresponding end of said top panel and an inner supporting layer formed by folded flaps on corresponding ends of said front panel and said back panel, a perforated line between said end fiaps on said front panel and said front panel, a notch formed along the upper portion of the perforated line between one of said end flaps on the front panel and said front panel, said front flap being fastened to said front panel.

5, The carton as claimed in claim 4 in which the scored lines between the front flap and the top panel and between the front panel and the bottom panel have a plurality of slits therein.

6. The carton as claimed in claim 4 in which said front fiap is positioned behind said front panel and is fastened thereto by a plurality of spaced adhesive spots.

7. The carton as claimed in claim 4 in which said front flap is positioned behind said front panel and the fastening between the abutting surfaces of the front fiap and the front panel comprises an adhesive resisting strip on one abutting surface having carton exposing spots spaced therein and a strip of adhesive and the other abutting surface adapted to contact said adhesive resisting strip including the spaced carton exposing spots.

8. A carton comprising a cardboard blank scored and folded with a bottom panel, a back panel, a front panel, a top panel, and a front flap, and two end panels, said end panels comprising an outer layer formed from a flap on one end of said top panel and an inner supporting layer formed by folded flaps on corresponding ends of said front and said back panels, a perforated line between said end flaps on said front panel and said front panel and between said end flap on said bottom panel and said bottom panel, scored lines between said on said back panel and said back panel and between said flap on said top panel and said top panel, a notch formed between the upper edge of said front panel along a portion of the perforated line between one of said end flaps on the front panel and the front panel, said front being removably fastened to said front panel, and a line on said bottom panel comprising scored portions at the end of said bottom panel adjacent said end flaps and a perforated portion between said scored portions.

9. The carton as claimed in claim 8 in which said scored line between said top panel and said front flap and said scored line between said front panel and said bottom panel have a plurality of slits therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,333 Thom Sept. 18, 1923 1,699,008 Miller Jan. 15, 1929 1,713,087 Nelson May 14, 1929 2,114,134 Weiss Apr. 12, 1938 2,179,731 Saylor Nov. 14, 1939 2,708,545 Seith May 17, 1955 

